Cross hold their nerve to see off Green’s challenge
Thames Valley Cricket League: Gerrards Cross seal title with four-wicket win at Dean
Gerrards Cross held their nerve on the final day of the season to beat Cookham Dean and lift the Thames Valley League Division 1 title, making Stoke Green’s five-wicket success at home to Henley 2nds immaterial.
Cross came into the final day with a healthy, but not insurmountable, points lead at the top of Division 1, however, they made sure they’d be no final day slip up as they dispensed with their hosts by four wickets.
Dean may only have had five wins to their name this season, but they've taken the odd scalp as well, including that of Cross’ rivals Stoke Green in convincing fashion.
However, despite putting up a good fight at Ricketts Field, putting on 207 in 45.4 overs after being asked to bat first, they were overhauled by the new champions.
Shahzad Asghar (44) and young
Alfie Agar (41no) produced mature displays at the crease while Cross shared their wickets around, with James Dalby taking 3-44. Cross’s response was led by opener Chris Marrow, who put on 79 from 90 balls before falling lbw to Sawan Gandesha (1-26). Ben Lane (66no) continued to carry the fight for the visitors, who reached their target in the 32nd over with several wickets in hand. It caps off a consistent season for Cross – who’ll now be promoted to the Home
Counties Leagues provided they meet ground criteria. They won 13 of their 18 matches and were on the losing side just four times.
Over at Stoke Green the home side were hoping for a big favour from Dean as they looked to finish the season on a high against Henley 2nds. This they managed, chasing down Henley’s target of 155 all out from 39.5 overs, to win by five wickets.
They reached their target in just
26.5 overs with J Odell making 68 from 81 and Abassi adding an unbeaten 23 further down the order.
Again, it was their bowling attack that really turned the screw on their visitors, with S Singh (3-27), Zulfi Butt (2-38), Gagan Singh (2-45) and Gurveer Singh (2-18) taking the wickets.
In Thames Valley Division 2A, Wraysbury finished just a point ahead of Marlow in third after beating Tring by two wickets on Saturday. Marlow beat High Wycombe 2nds by 82 runs to finish their campaign on a high, but both teams finished adrift of pacesetters, with Uxbridge taking the title after a convincing 154-run win over Amersham 2nds.
Runners-up Kew also won handsomely, beating Chesham by nine wickets to finish the season nine points behind the champions.
Hurst moved up to second in Division 2B after beating Reading by sixwickets, but they couldn’t reel in Wokingham 2nds, who took the title with a 143-run win over Cove.
Having already sealed the title in Division 3A, Sonning were beaten by 59 runs by Theale and Tilehurst on the final day, with second placed
Harpsden condemning White Waltham to relegation with a sixwicket win.
In Division 3B, Maidenhead & Bray finished just 16 points shy of promotion after losing their final game to second bottom Farnham Royal by 83 runs. Stoke Green 2nds finished second and Harefield 2nds took the title by just four points.